Your First Ten Speeches

As a Toastmaster you develop your speaking ability in a self-paced environment, one skill at a time. The first 10 speeches make up the Basic Communication and Leadership Program, in which all new members participate.

1. The Ice-Breaker is your first speech, to get you started by taking on a subject about which you are the expert (YOU), to introduce yourself, and to find what skills you want to develop.
   
   
2. Be In Earnest objectives include convincing your audience of your earnestness, sincerity, and conviction on a subject you thoroughly understand, and to confront your nervousness.
   
   
3. Organize Your Speech emphasizes organizing your thoughts into a logical sequence leading to a clearly defined goal, and building a speech with an opening, body and close.
   
   
4. Show What You Mean focuses on the use of gestures, body motions and body language as an integral part of your speech.
   
   
5. Vocal Variety explores the use of voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality as tools used by an effective speaker.
   
   
6. Work With Words objectives include understanding the functions and uses of the spoken word and selection of the precise words to communicate your ideas clearly, concisely, and vividly.
   
   
7. Apply Your Skills applies the combined speaking techniques and skills developed in the previous projects (particularly organization), allowing you to evaluate your own individual progress in the program.
   
   
8. Make It Persuasive gives you the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to convince an audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint by appealing to their own self-interest, building a logical foundation, and arousing emotional commitment.
   
   
9. Speak With Knowledge is a written speech that is actually read to the audience in a lively, interesting, and entertaining manner. It should be based on accurate, up-to-date information you have gathered for this purpose.
   
   
10. Inspire Your Audience is the final speech in the Basic Communication and Leadership Program. The objective of this speech is to select a topic about which you feel strongly, analyze your audience's mood and feelings, and inspire them using all the skills you have developed.